Americans everywhere are in mourning this week after former President George H.W. Bush passed away last Friday at the age of 94. Afterwards, Queen Elizabeth released a statement to express her “great sadness” at the death of a “great friend and ally.”

Now, a royal expert has come forward to reveal that the Queen and Bush had a far closer relationship than the public knew about. In fact, since his death, insiders have revealed that the Queen and Bush looked “like old friends” whenever they were together.

Bush first met the Queen during a visit to Buckingham Palace in 1989, and she returned the favor by visiting Washington D.C. in 1991. Royal expert Robert Hardman explained that the Queen bonded with the Bush family after a funny incident.

“The 1991 state visit was arranged by way of thanks and celebration but it began with some unexpected comedy on the White House lawn,” he said. “After President Bush’s formal welcome, he invited the Queen to the lectern. Given the difference in height between the two leaders, he was supposed to press a pedal and raise the dais for her. But he forgot. As a result, the queen was all but invisible. The moment was immortalized by NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski.”

“’She’s gone!’” he exclaimed. “‘All I got is a talking hat!’ Thereafter, royal staff would call this as ‘the talking hat tour.’”

Hardman added that Bush was in awe of the Queen for her stamina, saying,  “Rain or shine, your long walks have left even the Secret Service agents panting.”

Even after Bush left the White House, he stayed friends with the Queen.

“On her return to the U.S. in 2007 at the invitation of his son George W., the 43rd President, Bush Senior and Barbara were involved in every event,” Hardman said. “And when the Queen and the Duke visited the Washington memorial to World War II, Bush Junior stepped aside and asked his parents to be hosts.”

Sir David Manning, who was the ambassador to Britain at the time, recalled that the Queen was “very comfortable with Bush 41.”

“There they all were, walking around like old friends,” added Sir David. “Those occasions touch people in a way that is very hard to measure but it matters.”